Drag Racing Online - Race Results

FLYIN’ AT FIREBIRD

Notes by Chris Martin and photos by Tim Marshall

Ron Fassl’s Pepsi-sponsored ’23-T roadster won Fuel Altered at the 33rd annual Pepsi Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway in Emmett, Idaho. In the final at the 5,100-foot altitude track, Fassl registered the quickest fuel altered time ever when his 5.518/261.32 charge dismissed Jeff Bennett’s 6.123/236.96 in the "No Mercy" ’47 Fiat Topolino. Fassl had qualified No. 1 with a 5.94/245.29 and ran a 6.00 in round one to beat Mac McCord’s "Gorilla" ’23-T Ford.

Monroe’s Fiat Blows Its Top

Back to the drawing board. Mike Monroe’s blower explosion led to this ignominious exit.

Mike Monroe, a former NHRA Competition Eliminator AA/A driver, got introduced to Fuel Altered racing rather harshly. During Friday night qualifying Monroe paired up with Greg Daebelliehn’s "Fast n’ Forty" ’48 Fiat Topolino and launched okay, but his ’37 Fiat banged the blower and pitched the body near the top end, giving the fans a big perk. Monroe did not make the field with the Arias-powered Carroll & Monroe entry settling for a 6.79/185.37 best.

Firebird Marks Fall at Nightfire Race

The first five-second Alcohol Funny Car run was registered during the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals and the person who did it should cause no surprise. Home-stater Jett Field of Pocatello shot to a 5.96/237.02 to win the class and did it at the expense of Matt Moreira in the final. On the speedy side of things, jet dragster racer Ancel Horton (below) of Fort Worth, Texas set the Idaho land speed record by running the track’s first 300-mph run in his "Mississippi Madman" jet dragster. He closed the show with a superb 5.42 at 301.20-mph.

Kerunsky’s Truck (Yes, Truck) Takes Pro Modified

Glen Kerunsky tops Pat Stoken for the Pepsi Firebird Nationals Pro Modified title.

Glen Kerunsky won his first West Coast Pro Modified major event when he wheeled his Chevy S-10 truck (it’s a stretch, folks) to the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals title. He didn’t qualify well, landing in the sixth spot, with a 6.72, which trailed polesitter Kirk Kuhns’ 6.57, 220.91 in a ‘63 Corvette. However, once eliminations got rolling, he stepped to the fore. In the final, the Canadian driver logged a 6.68, 207.56 to handle Pat Stoken’s troubled 7.10 in a Gene Fulton-prepped ‘69 Camaro. Best race of the day in Pro Mod? How about former ADRA Pro Stock World Champ Randy Hagerty’s 6.842, 205.05 to 6.842, 206.61 (.488 to .494 reactions) win over Charles Carpenter’s ‘55 Chevy in round two?

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